New funding for EYES for inner-city youth

Posted: June 24, 2013 12:00 p.m.

EYES co-ordinator Ben Freitag says the camps provide opportunities for children to learn more about sciences and engineering.
EYES co-ordinator Ben Freitag says the camps provide opportunities for children to learn more about sciences and engineering. Photo: U of R External Relations

More children in Saskatchewan will be finding out about science and engineering through the University of Regina’s EYES program, thanks to new funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, or NSERC.

At the EYES program (Educating Youth in Engineering and Science) students design, create and explore science. For example, they may build robots or rockets. New last year was a technology camp with 3D printing and game design.

Now, NSERC has announced it will provide an additional $75,000 for three years. The money will be used to put on EYES camps at four community schools in Regina.

Being curious and asking questions is an important skill for all young people to have,” says EYES project co-ordinator, Ben Freitag.

More than 12,000 youths were reached through EYES outreach programs at 84 schools in 41 communities across southern Saskatchewan in May and June last year. Then in July and August, more than 1,300 youths - going into Grades 2 to 9 - attended EYES camps in Regina and nine other communities: Assiniboia, Esterhazy, Estevan, Foam Lake, Fort Qu’Appelle, Moose Jaw, Shaunavon, Swift Current and Weyburn.

EYES, which began in 1995, has several sources of funding, with almost two-thirds coming from camper fees. Other sources of revenue include government, industry and the University of Regina. The annual operating budget is $300,000. EYES has 21 instructors, 15 high school volunteers, a co-ordinator and an assistant co-ordinator.